Wolf Week

WHAT:

Ever since she was a teenager, Summer has had a bucket lists of beasts she was determined to see in the wild. Great white sharks, a jaguar, mountain gorillas, African grey parrots, a mountain lion, a harpy eagle… the list is quite extensive. Up at the top of the list has always been the grey wolf of North America. Naturally, Mr. Foreman is keen to seek out these lionized canids as well.

Their range is quite limited.  In addition, they are still a source of contentious political debate in America, often persecuted and shot by those who see them as nuisance animals, so they’re wary of humans. These are not easy animals to find.

Foreman and Wilms decide to stack the deck in their favor. They do this by heading to one of the best places to see these animals and joining a course that not only teaches participants about wolf and Yellowstone ecology, but will also pair them up with wildlife experts that have experience in tracking down these predators.

HOW:

The Yellowstone Forever Institute offers a broad range of courses in and around Yellowstone National Park. Anyone can sign up for these programs. Subjects include fly fishing, the history of the park, birding, photography, first aid and naturalist certification courses, plus plenty more. They also cater to specialty groups such as families, teachers, students, LGBT groups, and even offer private courses.

You don’t need to join such a program to find wolves or to enjoy the wonders of Yellowstone, but the help and education can certainly enhance the experience.

WHEN:

Winter is a great time to see wolves; they are easier to spot against the snowy background and there are fewer visitors to the park.

RESOURCES:

Yellowstone Forever Institute: https://www.yellowstone.org

Wolves, National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wolves.htm

Traveling to Yellowstone:  https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/index.htm